A chance to relive Judy Garland’s Beyond the Rainbow performance decades ago at Carnegie Hall is coming to Richmond.

Actress Grey Garrett will be recreating her performance for much of May at the Swift Creek Mill Theatre.

Garland was a decorated actress and singer of the post-war American era. Beyond the Rainbow celebrated her return to the stage shortly before her untimely death. It’s a journey through her life as a small-town Midwest girl, to MGM Studios’ silver screen.

“The author of this show has taken the music (and lyrics) from that concert, and used them to connect with episodes from her life. That aspect, linking the music with the life, is very interesting, I think, and very powerful,” said Tom Width, the show’s director.

Garrett said she’s sang like Garland for a while, and this is the first time she’s had a chance to demonstrate her gift.

“This music is some of the best ever written, and doing Garland’s arrangements of them is the icing on the cake,” said Garrett.

“We also have an incredible actress playing young Judy (Grace Mincks). I’m blown away to see someone as young as she is with so much talent. It’s exciting.”

Width and Garrett have known each other for years, and their chemistry will be visible.

“I have known this young lady since she was ten years old…As an artist, she is consummate. As a person, she is fun, very quirky, full of surprises, and has an incredible spirit and outlook on life,” said Width.

“(I’m excited) to see Grey triumph as she deserves to. She’s earned it! And to see the rest of this very talented cast rally behind her to tell this story.”

What should attendees expect from this show?

“A remarkable impersonation of an iconic star. They can then expect many insights into her life, and how she became who she was, scars and all…It’s one-of-a-kind. This is not something that you will have a chance to see very often, and once missed, it’s gone,” said Width.

Garrett kept it simple: “Vibrato.”

Beyond the Rainbow will be running every Thursday through Friday in May to the first weekend of June, at 8 PM. Tickets cost $38 and can be ordered through their box office (804-748-5203) or at www.swiftcreekmill.com.

I’m a spring intern at RVA Mag and GayRVA. I recently got my degree in journalism from Virginia Tech, where I also wrote for the Collegiate Times newspaper. I spent the first half of my life as an impatient New Yorker, but I grew up here in Richmond, buying skateboards from Dominion, seeing shows at Alley Katz, and watching VCU Rams basketball games. I like everything bagels, wasting my money on clothes I don’t need, moombahton music, and cycling. I probably fell down putting on my pants this morning.